NATIONAL STAFF

Thomas Bandar

Thomas maintains parallel careers as an arts administrator, violist, and music educator. Through his successive leadership roles at the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Curtis Institute of Music—where he served as Associate Dean—he has guided an entire generation of gifted young musicians through their music education and transition to life as professional musicians. In 2017 he was appointed Executive Director of Lutheran Music Program.

In recent seasons he has been a faculty member at the Crested Butte Music Festival and performed in recital across the East Coast, including appearances with Curtis on Tour, Curtis’s signature touring initiative. A regular performer with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Thomas has also been a member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Symphony, and Cleveland Opera Orchestra.

Thomas has served on the faculty of Texas Lutheran University and been a clinician and guest artist at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Texas-Austin, Gonzaga University, and Eastern Washington University. A dedicated chamber musician, he has taught at the Austin Chamber Music Center and California Summer Music, and founded and directed chamber music programs for Youth Music Monterey and the Holy Names Music Center.

Thomas holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Denver, with additional studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Lisa Hartwig

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lisa attended Lutheran schools from kindergarten through college. A graduate of St. Olaf College, she has worked her entire career in non-profit advancement and marketing positions including at Walker Art Center and the University of Minnesota. She is married to Jon Alberg and the mother of twins Ethan and Claire. She lives in the lovely St. Croix River town of Hudson, Wisconsin, and began working at Lutheran Summer Music in December 2014.

Kristina Rodel Sorum

Kristina Rodel Sorum is a 2015 graduate of the University of Minnesota and holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, as well as a minor in Mass Communications. In her college years, she spent time working for The MasterWorks Festival, the Lyra Baroque Orchestra and the First Year Experience program at the U of M. Kristina has been with Lutheran Music Program since May 2016.

Kristina is an active singer in the Twin Cities, having sung in groups such as VocalEssence, The Singers, the Minnesota Chorale, Hymnos, MPLS (imPulse), Twin Cities Fringe Opera, the Twin Cities Early Music Festival, and the Lakes Area Music Festival. She resides in Minneapolis with her husband, Eric Sorum.